What impact does a win like Saturday’s against Barça and a ticket to the Champions League have for Girona?
The impact is very big. Being able to be among the cities that are Champions, which in the field of fubol are the ones that are seen the most, will also give the city a lot of visibility, and more considering that we are not among the biggest. It represents a leap forward for us in terms of knowledge and visibility, however, and I think it is also a very important element, it strengthens the sense of identity of all the people of Girona, it makes it grow, and that is very good.
Have they calculated the economic impact that playing the Champions League in Girona can represent?
No, we have not done these studies as a City Council. We are now in a scenario that was unthinkable at the beginning of the season. It will be an important, economic, positive impact for the city. The most important thing is that it also helps us to build a sense of community, as I said before, among the people of Girona.
What changed the game?
I think the tactical changes in the second half, and the entry of players like Portu. The first minutes after the break were an exchange of blows and here we could perhaps think that the quality of the Barça players would prevail. Girona, with the readjustments made by Míchel, had taken the pressure off the rival, this was key, and from a mistake by Barça that allowed the tie at two, Girona proved effective, it changed everything , and we were far superior in the last half hour. Portu was decisive, the changes Míchel makes are key, and also the tactical change in the middle.
They say that Joan Laporta ended up very angry…
What I can say is that when they were winning the president of Barça was happy, and as the game progressed, the perspective changed. It seems logical to me. I was also more pissed off when we were losing, when you feel the colors these things happen. In any case, Joan Laporta was respectful at all times and had a very noble and correct attitude. I didn’t see anything special about him.
In December, after the 2-4 in Montjuïc, he said that they were already talking to the club about the adaptations that would be needed in the stadium to go to Europe. Months have passed and we’re still right there.
We don’t continue right there. The club has done work and so has the City Council when considering an extension and remodeling of Montilivi, and all this has been done in a very tight period of time. Now there are several scenarios on the table and the club will have to decide.
Can you imagine Girona playing the Champions League in Barcelona?
Girona must play the Champions League in Montilivi. This is what I hope and imagine, and it is the scenario in which the City Council is working.
Can the City Council do something to avoid this, if the decision is to play in Barcelona?
I believe that what the City Council must do is to express the feelings of the people of Girona. When we spoke to the club we explained to them that it is important for the city to play the Champions League in Girona. This is our role, to offer answers to mobility questions, for example, that may arise. We’ll try to make things as easy as we always have.
Why have the works that the club had planned to extend the northern goal and the Preferent ended up being discarded?
I can’t answer that, the club knows the details of the decisions made by the club. They told us that they were working on a remodeling project in Montilivi and we have been helping them and informing them of the needs and requirements that they will need, and that they know everything that is needed to process the building permit.
What are Girona’s plans now, when will the works be done?
I don’t know when these works could start, but I am convinced that sooner rather than later.
You voted against the concession of Montilivi to Girona. What did he advocate that should be done in this case?
The concession, as such, seemed fine to us. There was no problem with the concession, because a football stadium of this size makes sense for a professional club to use it. We would have liked the concession to have included more social return and certain compensations, and since we are in the city government we have been working on this. I trust that in the coming months or years it will become concrete. For example, in important and strategic city issues such as waste management, mobility, the spread of the Catalan language… the club can accompany us and offer its social impact. In grassroots sports and in collaboration with other clubs in the city, Girona is already doing things, and could also do more.
Basketball Girona has been saved this day.
Shame about Uni’s defeat, if it had made it to the final this would be a weekend comparable to June 19, 2022, when men’s basketball and football were promoted to the elite. All these are signs that professional sport in Girona is experiencing a great moment.
If Girona hockey is saved in the play-out, the city will once again have four First Division teams. What does this bring you?
It brings us that there are children, young people, elderly people who see sport as a daily practice linked to health and well-being. Exercising is healthy, cooperative, and gives values. This is very important. And also, as I told him before, having four First Division teams strengthens our identity, it also brings Girona pride, a pride well understood, of being proud of the city but not selfish or pedantic.
Does cycling also bring benefits to Girona?
Cycling is a different phenomenon. We are talking about tourism, one thing has nothing to do with the other. Cycling brings people to an economic activity. The clubs are rooted in the city, with base sports schools and a city idea, it is not comparable.
They have been denied the subsidy to renew the lighting in Fontajau. Do they rule out doing it?
We were waiting for the subsidy that the Spanish government awarded from European funds. If it had reached us, we would have renewed the lights in Fontajau. Now we will have to look for other financing alternatives. The budget is already done and the investments are decided. Now it’s about seeing how we can deal with a need that we know is there. We never said we don’t want to do it. We intend to do it, but we need to find how it can be financed.
2024-05-06 04:30:25
#Girona #play #Champions #League #Montilivi
